Not to get into Austenuations, but Mr. Rushworth tries to please (the ladies, at least) with many of his speeches. Mr. Thorpe wants them (or at least, Catherine) pleased, but only with himself.

What on earth could induce a young man to comment on female faces to a female companion? Do you think he was praising what Catherine had on her face, or declaimed against what she did not, in an effort to make a personal compliment (which I think was not allowed at the time to be polite)? If so, she completely missed it all, as his choices of beauty vs. not are not even registered by her!